(CNN) – Sarah Palin's camp is denying claims she's is snubbing talk show host Oprah Winfrey, telling CNN Monday the decision was "nothing personal" - the Alaska governor has just been flooded with so many media requests she simply hasn't had the time to sit down with the daytime talk show icon.

“The governor was invited to appear. She was also invited to appear on Letterman, Leno, Stephanopoulos, The Daily Show. She passed on a vast majority of these requests," Bill McAllister, Palin's communications director and press secretary.

"We’re up to about 250 requests for interviews and appearances and so on. It’s worldwide, there’s still a tremendous amount of interest. It’s nothing personal about Oprah, it’s just that she turned down the vast majority of these requests."

A Palin appearance at a later date is still possible, said McAllister: “I’m not aware that it’s been ruled out.”

Winfrey - the popular daytime talk show host and strong Barack Obama supporter - seemed to suggest last week that Palin was deliberately avoiding her show.

"I said I would be happy to talk to Sarah Palin when the election was over…" she said in an interview with the entertainment show Extra. "I went and tried to talk to Sarah Palin and instead she talked to Greta [Van Susteren]. She talked to Matt [Lauer]. She talked to Larry [King]. But she didn't talk to me.”

Winfrey’s comments came in response to rumors she'd refused to offer an invitation to the former vice presidential candidate.

soundoff(486 Responses)

IL voter

I don't see what all the fuss is about. Oprah kept her word and extended the invitation when the election was over (as she always said she would). She did not provide a political forum to ANY of the candidates, so her support of Obama is irrelevant (he appeared on her show BEFORE announcing his candidacy, to discuss his book). I don't see her crying or pouting about Sarah turning her down, either. I think she is merely pointing out that she made good on her promise. It appears that all that bellyaching and boycotting was a waste of energy. By the way, I sincerely doubt that Oprah is the least bit fazed by this. I'm sure there are hundreds of people she would rather sit down with, and her show's success will not be affected. The media has turned this into a tabloid story. It is genuinely sad that so many people are buying into the drama that does not exist.

December 8, 2008 10:40 pm at 10:40 pm |

anee

A funny thing happened on the way to Oprah's show!! Palin the Republican needs a plumber!!

December 8, 2008 10:41 pm at 10:41 pm |

annoyed

I was hoping for her to disappear !
I didn't hear anything interesting from her up to now
Cannot see how she can get some wisdom in 4 years

December 8, 2008 10:41 pm at 10:41 pm |

Ellie in Alaska

Sarah is not the typical Alaskan woman and is giving us a bad image. Fishing is a far more popular outdoor sport. Her rating has gone down considerably since the primary and many of us wish she would go away.

December 8, 2008 10:42 pm at 10:42 pm |

Chris from Texas

Who cares?!?!?! Go away Palin!

December 8, 2008 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |

diane

Sarah thought about that book deal she is working on (if she hasn't already signed it) and I am sure the publisher would want her to do Oprah, since Oprah sells books so she is smoothing it over ruffled feathers forr future profits. Sarah always take care of Sarah doesn't she?

Does Oprah need the ratings that bad to put this woman on her show especially since she obviously didn't vote for her? Apparently the lure is too intoxicating for her.

TV is sick a business. It's all about the hype, not the substance.

December 8, 2008 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |

VETS4Obama

Well said J!!

December 8, 2008 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |

Karen

I would not want her on the show. For what, she has nothing to offer of value. She needs instead to stay home and manage her dysfunctional family and learn how to effectively govern her state. Any higher position is above her head.

December 8, 2008 10:43 pm at 10:43 pm |

whatever

who cares

December 8, 2008 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm |

Painful Truth

Careful all you women with the nasty, extreme hatred for Palin...your inferiority complex is showing. Only a small-minded woman would lay so much displaced hatred at the feet of someone who has done nothing to you. Palin is living an extraordinary life and you can't stand it. The volume of your ridiculous rant that she needs to disappear is proportionate to your fear that Palin will return and be a daily reminder to you that some women DO have it all – family, career, love, faith, beauty, INNER beauty and oh yeah, happiness. Jealous much???? Even Oprah can't buy all that, so she worships herself.

December 8, 2008 10:46 pm at 10:46 pm |

Atticus

First of all to rogmed: you're wrong. Oprah stated that because she was publically supporting a candidate for the first time she wold not be interviewing ANY of the candidates, until after the election.
To Sally: to paraphrase "oprah is nothing special just in the right place at the right time" What are you talking about??
Oprah started out as a local (chicago) talk show host. As word about her got around, other stations started picking up the show, until she was Nationally Syndicated. She worked her butt off to get where she is unlike Palin, who by the way, is opular like a two headed snake. She's an enigma wrapped in a question mark. In otherwards shes todays sideshow. And a complete idiot, add ignorance and you have scary. Hopefully she'll stay in Alaska and keep stealing and practicing questionable ethics.

December 8, 2008 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm |

Hernando

Who is Oprah ?. I must ignore her because there are a lot of intelligent programs to watch besides some of these manure digging talk shows.

December 8, 2008 10:51 pm at 10:51 pm |

ilsn

Sarah Palin does not need Oprah. Oprah is a has been, go love on Obama idiot.

December 8, 2008 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |

Becky

She isnt scared to shoot wolves from helicopters but she seems to be scared to talk to Oprah....Republicans are so fake...Their entire concept is based on Fraud...

December 8, 2008 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |

tired of palin

when will this woman go away !?!? i thought silly season was over.

December 8, 2008 10:53 pm at 10:53 pm |

Someone normal

Why all the hate? – both ways. It seems there is no tolerance. If someone disagrees with you, they are the scum of the earth and lets find some way to degrade them so we feel better. You people need to get a life and stop regurgitating what the media is feeding you. Lets try to think for ourselves.

December 8, 2008 10:54 pm at 10:54 pm |

VETS4Obama

A real intelligent bimbo....what is it 5 years for a B.A. at 6 different schools or is it 6 years from 5 schools? I guess to the right wing nutjobs intelligence in leaders means nothing...after all they voted for G.W. twice!

December 8, 2008 10:54 pm at 10:54 pm |

Beth

I think Sarah Palin needs to keep herself in Alaska ! I`m sure her state need a Governor . When she Is on these talkshows , Who is running Alaska ?

December 8, 2008 10:59 pm at 10:59 pm |

Ed

Just want to point out that the only reason Oprah said anything is because of the rumors that she snubbed Palin. Oprah's not guilty of anything but stating the truth. Now, back to your bashing of each other.

December 8, 2008 10:59 pm at 10:59 pm |

SC

Stay in Alaska.
Go shoot some moose.
Don't go see Operah or you'll be making a fool out of yourself.

December 8, 2008 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm |

Perusing-Through

PLEASE DON'T CHANGE SARAH PALIN

Please stay just as you are. Sarah with you leading the Republican charge, the Progressives will always be in-charge. So please don't change. The Independents, Progressives, and Democrats love you just the way you are – – – As A Republican Boat Anchor.

December 8, 2008 11:02 pm at 11:02 pm |

paul

Please, people and THE MEDIA, leave Sarah Palin alone and stop trying at every turn to somehow demonize her or create a negative story with her in it. Instead of writing about how her popularity is still high and people want to meet and hear from her, the media opts to write about how Sarah palin might have SNUBBED Oraph, the Queen of America! Come on, just because its Oprah does not mean that Palin clears her schedule for her.

Let Palin do her elected job and when she opts to talk to Oprah, or Dave or Larry, then she will IF they will at that time.

December 8, 2008 11:02 pm at 11:02 pm |

Bev

Yawn.....Who the heck cares of Palin is on or not on Oprah? I prefer not to listen to either one of them. If people think this is an issue, they need to go spend some time at an unemployment center or food pantry and see what really is important right now in America. And, that goes for Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey, too. A good dose of humility would do both of them some good.

December 8, 2008 11:03 pm at 11:03 pm |

55STLOUISMO

FIREFIGHTER: I agree that people need to not hate and work together, but that doesn't stop discussion and opinions. I repeat: if Palin and her supporters want to run her in 2012, then let's start hearing her actually answer questions about issues! No more ducking them with her so-called "folksy" ways. I have never ever heard Palin speak intelligently or coherently about ANY ISSUE. All I've heard her say is stuff like "we're wantin' mavericks" and "people love America." She seems unable to speak to REAL ISSUES!